How to check for lung cancer?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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How to check for lung cancer, firstly, for lung cancer screening, particularly in people over forty years old, especially smokers, it is recommended to regularly undergo low-dose spiral CT scans of the chest. Secondly, if a tumor is detected, it is suggested to proceed with enhanced CT scans, sputum cytology tests, or PET-CT. If it is confirmed that there is a tumor in the lungs, then a biopsy is needed. The biopsy can be performed under bronchoscopy, or transthoracic lung puncture and biopsy of living tissue can also be done, as well as biopsy of metastatic lesions or cytological examination of pleural effusion to diagnose whether it is lung cancer, the type of lung cancer, and certain immunohistochemical situations.

Other Voices

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Written by Yuan Qing
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What should I do if lung cancer causes coughing up blood?

Lung cancer refers to a condition where, due to genetic mutations in human cells, cells grow disorderly or wildly, forming a solid mass-like lesion primarily known as lung cancer. Due to the uneven growth of lung cancer, local necrosis can occur, leading to bleeding, making coughing up blood a very common clinical manifestation in lung cancer. The severity of coughing up blood is classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Generally, if a single instance of coughing up blood is less than five milliliters, it can be managed with Yunnan Baiyao. However, if the amount exceeds 100 milliliters, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly to prevent life-threatening risks from massive hemoptysis. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is coughing up blood lung cancer?

Patients with lung cancer can experience hemoptysis, but the occurrence of hemoptysis does not necessarily mean that it is caused by lung cancer. Although hemoptysis is a symptom of lung cancer, there are many other diseases that can cause it as well, such as tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, various pneumonias, certain heart diseases, blood disorders, etc. Therefore, it can only be said that hemoptysis may be an indication of lung cancer, not that hemoptysis confirms the presence of lung cancer.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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How is lung cancer treated?

For the treatment of lung cancer, it should currently be based on a comprehensive treatment method tailored to the patient's age, specific condition, nutritional status, economic condition, and the capabilities available at the hospital. It is particularly related to the stage of the disease and the type identified in the tissue biopsy. Currently, lung cancer primarily adopts a multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment approach spearheaded by surgical intervention. Surgical treatment is the preferred method for lung cancer, but since it is a systemic disease, surgery alone cannot completely address the issue. Therefore, it must be combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments in a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach. Additionally, immunotherapy and targeted therapy are inseparable and crucial parts of integrated treatment strategies for lung cancer. If the disease is staged and involves adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, surgical treatment is recommended followed by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or targeted and immunotherapy. If surgery is not possible, some supportive treatments can be considered. For small-cell lung cancer, surgery is not recommended because it offers no benefit; instead, a combined approach of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is advised.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Is a cough indicative of lung cancer?

Lung cancer occurs when the tissue cells in the lungs lose their normal genetic regulation, mutations occur in the genes, and normal tissue cells grow disorderly, forming a disease characterized mainly by tumors, known as lung cancer. The clinical manifestations of lung cancer can include choking cough, cough, coughing up blood, fever, weight loss, and other symptoms. However, it does not necessarily mean that a choking cough is definitely lung cancer. For example, conditions like bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even pneumonia and lung infections can cause choking coughs. Some colds may also present symptoms of choking cough. Therefore, a choking cough is not necessarily indicative of lung cancer. It is essential to consider the patient's age, occupation, smoking history, and if available, to combine this information with chest X-rays to make a comprehensive determination of whether it is lung cancer.

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Do early-stage lung cancer patients experience vomiting?

If a patient develops lung cancer, some may experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the early stages, which is caused by the spread of cancer cells. Others may experience localized pain. It is suggested that lung cancer patients who experience nausea and vomiting adopt a fasting method for treatment, or treat it through localized massage. If patients discover that they have lung cancer, it is crucial to control it in the early stages to prevent the spread of cancer cells. If necessary, treatment can be administered through chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy drugs.